Frequently Asked Questions for New Faculty: Los Angeles
What paperwork do I need to submit?
Someone from Boston HR will email all new employee start paperwork. All forms can be completed and returned via email with the exception of the I-9 Form. The I-9 Form must be completed and submitted at the LA center. You are required to provide proof of identification. Acceptable forms of identification are either a US Passport OR a CA Driver’s License AND a Social Security card together.
How do I get an ID?
Once new hire paperwork is submitted to Boston, you will be issued an Emerson ID number. Prior to first day of teaching, schedule a time to have your photo taken and your identification card issued.
Where do I park?
Please park in the public parking lot on the Ground Floor of the Emerson Los Angeles Building (please enter the first driveway on the left/east side of the street when turning onto Gordon Street from Sunset Boulevard; see street-level photo map).
How can I get a sample syllabus for my class?
The Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning's Faculty Resources page offers Syllabi Resources. Under this heading you will find:
- Course Syllabus Items to Consider
- Developing a Learning-Centered Syllabus
- The Learner-Centered Syllabus
- 25 Teaching Tips
Does anyone need to approve my syllabus?
Please submit your syllabus to Mikhail Gershovich (mikhail_gershovich [at] emerson.edu (mikhail_gershovich[at]emerson[dot]edu)), Director of Academic Planning & Digital Learning, for approval.
When do I need to submit a syllabus?
A class syllabus is due the first faculty meeting of the semester (date will vary each year).
How do I find out where my class is?
Prior to your first day of class you will sign a Part-Time Faculty Appointment Agreement listing the course(s) you are teaching, scheduled time and location of classroom.
How do I know who is in my class?
Visit eCommon and log in using your Emerson ID and password. Select the Faculty Tab. Look for the My Course Information menu. Click the group icon to go directly to your class list. You can also get to your Class List from your schedule (see “Viewing Your Schedule”).
Where can I learn Canvas and other teaching technology?
All new faculty receive an email from the IT Technology Department about technologies for teaching like Canvas, Median, Wordpress etc. with instructions on who to contact to schedule a training session. To learn about these tools or to schedule a consultation, contact itg [at] emerson.edu (itg[at]emerson[dot]edu) or 617-824-8090.
How do I enter grades?
Visit eCommon and logon using your Emerson ID and password. Select the Faculty Tab. Look for the Faculty Grade Assignment menu. Click the drop down menu and then choose Go. A list of courses available for grading will appear under “Faculty Grade Assignment”. Note: if you don't see all your courses, click More in the bottom right corner of the menu to access a full list.
What resources are available to me at the Iwasaki Library in Boston?
A few of the resources include e-books, media collection, journals, magazines, newspapers, databases and archives. Visit the Emerson College Iwasaki Library.
Who can I contact at the Library for help?
Please refer to the Emerson website and visit the Emerson College Iwasaki Library online.
How do I find people I need to speak with in Boston?
An employee directory can be found on the Emerson College website.
When does the semester begin and end and which days do we have off due to holidays?
Please refer to the academic calendar found on the Emerson website for a list of holidays. You can also peruse our program calendar.
When is orientation each term and what is my role?
Orientation is held following the students move in and prior to the first week of class. Dates will vary each semester. Mikhail Gershovich will send out advanced notice with the orientation date. You are required to have copies of your course syllabus available to handout to your students at orientation.
When are faculty meetings held?
Faculty meetings are generally set prior to the start of the semester. Mikhail Gershovich will send out advance with the faculty meeting date.
How much and when do I get paid?
Your pay is based on an hourly rate and dependent upon years of service.
To whom do I speak to if there is a payroll issue?
Please contact Boston Payroll at payroll [at] emerson.edu (payroll[at]emerson[dot]edu).
What electronic teaching resources are available to me?
Educational resources are available online via the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning's Faculty Resources page.
Who do I contact regarding classroom management/behavior issues?
From time to time, a faculty member may encounter a student whose personal difficulties and behaviors can pose a challenge in the classroom. For example, you may be concerned when a student repeatedly interrupts the class with inappropriate verbal and non-verbal behaviors that interfere with your teaching or the participation of other students in the class.
The Emerson College Student Handbook clearly states that the primary responsibility for managing the classroom rest with the faculty member and that the faculty member has the right to respond to disruptive behavior. It further indicates that all students are expected to treat all members of the College community in a civil and respectful manner and that intentional or reckless interference of College activities, including teaching, constitutes a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. One can also find the proper procedures to use if one wishes to file a complaint about a student due to disruptive behavior. Please read the Student Code of Conduct.
The course syllabus should contain a section referencing what the faculty member expects as appropriate classroom behavior and what is not acceptable. These standards may vary from professor to professor. It is important to discuss these at the beginning of the semester so that students have a clear understanding of your expectations for both academic outcomes as well as behavioral norms.
What is Emerson’s plagiarism policy?
Definition: The Writing Program Administrators (WPA) define plagiarism as—“occurring when a writer deliberately uses someone else’s language, ideas, or other original (not common-knowledge) material without acknowledging its source; submitting someone else’s text as one’s own or attempting to blur the line between ones’ own ideas or words and those borrowed from another source.”
Procedure for the Faculty: The following procedure is intended to provide guidance to faculty members in reporting suspected plagiarism and other acts of academic misconduct and ensure a fair and due process. Faculty members should speak with a student suspected of committing an act of academic misconduct immediately and report it to their department Chair without delay. Resolution of cases of academic misconduct will be dealt with as swiftly as possible.
- If a faculty member suspects a student of academic dishonesty the faculty member is encouraged to speak with the student to gather further information.
- If the faculty member believes that there is sufficient evidence that an act of academic dishonesty has taken place, intentionally or inadvertently, the faculty member will notify her/his department Chair immediately regarding her/his findings.
- If the Chair concurs that the incident may be an act of academic dishonesty, the Chair will immediately contact the Office of the Dean of Students for review, documentation, and adjudication.
- The faculty member will notify the student of the allegation, informing her/him that the matter is being forwarded to the Office of the Dean of Students for review and adjudication.
- The faculty member is to complete an Academic Misconduct Complaint Form prior to contacting the Dean of Students about an allegation of plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct. The form can be found at emerson.edu/academic-affairs/forms.
- The faculty member and department Chair will have an opportunity to provide testimony and recommend a sanction.
Policies on plagiarism can be found at emerson.edu/policies/plagiarism and emerson.edu/policies/academic-misconduct-procedures-faculty.
What happens if I cannot teach my class due to an emergency?
Please email and inform your students of the class cancellation and notify the Undergraduate Academic Department Administrator.
Which holidays do I have off?
- Fall semester: Thanksgiving Day and the day after
- Spring semester: Martin Luther King Day
